Poll--The Weakest Link: Big Star RADIO CITY, Round 1

We come to Big Star's 1974 album RADIO CITY, one of my favorite albums of all time.

Let's eliminate two this round.

Discussion Question:

Where do you rank RADIO CITY amongst the Big Star catalog?

 

O My Soul
She's A Mover

This will be a painful game... All tracks are great and so essential to this classic album.

(My goal is to just focus on the top core tracks... All others must be sacrificed, and discarded along the way!)

DisQue:
Radio City is arguably Big Star's best.
It has all the catchy melodies, jangly chunky guitars, lovable hooks, stunning vocals, recognizable lyrics, that are hallmarks of great Big Star songs.
And Radio City is full of them.

It's a shame that Chris Bell left early; but the band was already splintering by then.
Remarkably, the album still sounds cohesive.

 

The last 2 songs........not that I think they're bad.
I kind of know my final 4 for this album.

DQ:
Not having a lot of Big Star, probably the 1st album, then this, then Third.

 

Morpha Too
She's A Mover
It's my second favorite Big Star record after the first

 

Morpha and Mod

My ranking matches the chronological order of release. I love 3rd but not as much as RC, and #1 wins because of Chris Bell.

 

Daisy and Mover. My favorite Big Star. I much prefer Alex's vocals to Chris's--though I do love the first album.

 

She's A Mover
Mod Lang

Love all three albums, but Radio City just barely beats the other two for me. I love the last two tracks as they (especially Morpha Too) lead the way towards Third. But next round will be tough.

 

Mod Lang
Morpha Too

 

Seeing Morpha Too getting the most votes now is kinda sad.
It's a great little semi-instrumental track that conveys such a strong mood... that does carry over as a bridge to Third. I forget that !!
But all these tracks have such strong distinctive qualities that deserves acclaim.

 

Mover and Morpha - that wasn't too, too hard to choose.

This is going to be brutal after this round.

I go back and forth between this and the debut as my favorite - kind of depends on my mood.

 

I picked the last two.

This is probably my favorite Big Star album, although it a close call between this album and #1 Record.

 

Bump.

 

I chose "She's A Mover" and "Morpha Too" grudgingly, because there is so little chaff on this golden wheat.

 

Mover and Morpha like the rest. Agreed it will get much harder after that.

Radio City after #1 Record, but before Third. I honestly never understood the appeal that "Third" has with so many that it get concerts celebrating it, etc...

 

"What's Going Ahn" is one of the most naked, emotional songs I have ever heard that's not on a Joni Mitchell album.

 

Yes, this is painful. But bye bye to Morpha Too & I'm In Love With A Girl.

This is their best album.

 

I loooove Morpha Too. Beautiful, haunting, stripped back, it's too good for it's own good imo.

I picked Mod & Mover (but man I really like those tracks as well)

This is probably my favorite Big Star album overall, it has that feeling that everything is about to come apart like Third, but with all the pop-jangly goodness of #1, and rocks more than either of those records. Chris Bell is sorely missed here, however, and I'd give one my kidneys away to alter time & have his & Alex's harmonies enrich this album even more.

Anyway, the Third weakest link was heartbreaking, so I imagine this one will be too

 

I rank Radio City as Big Star's second best, after #1 Record.

 

Voted Morpha Too and Mod Lang. (My third choice would have been She's a mover.)

To me it's on par with #1 Record as their best. I'm less fond of the third Big Star record.

 

I went with Mod Lang and Morpha Too. Very tough call. They are all great songs.

Coincidentally just purchased an original of this, just waiting for it to arrive.

 

No weak links, no vote!

 

My thoughts exactly. While I like some songs on Third, I have never truly connected with it as a whole like #1 Record and Radio City.

 

Wow, good subject LP -- personally, I like every note on this one, but I guess initially I'll go with Morpha and Way Out West. Not that there's anything wrong with either of them.

 

Morpha Too and Mod Lang
"She's A Mover" rocks and should not be getting voted off already!

DQ: I rate RADIO CITY just behind #1RECORD. Both are excellent albums. BIG STAR THIRD/SISTER LOVERS (whatever you want to call it) is not as good as either of the first two albums, though it does have it's moments.

 

The right two are leading, IMO: "She's a Mover" and "Morpha Too"

DQ: This is without hesitation my favorite Big Star album. I love the first side of #1 Record but the second side's a bit weak, and I don't care for Third/Sister Lovers. But this one's a stone-cold classic.